Organic element for electroluminescent devices

ABSTRACT

An electroluminescent device comprises a light-emitting layer containing a host and a light-emitting material wherein the light-emitting material comprises a boron complex containing boron complexed by two ring nitrogens of a deprotonated bis(aromatic)amine or bis(aromatic)methene ligand wherein the boron complex contains a tertiary amine substituent group. The invention provides a material for a light-emitting layer of an EL device that exhibits improved luminance efficiency.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an electroluminescent (EL) device comprising a light-emitting layer comprising a boron complex containing a tertiary amine group that provides improved luminance efficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While organic electroluminescent (EL) devices have been known for over two decades, their performance limitations have represented a barrier to many desirable applications. In simplest form, an organic EL device is comprised of an anode for hole injection, a cathode for electron injection, and an organic medium sandwiched between these electrodes to support charge recombination that yields emission of light. These devices are also commonly referred to as organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs. Representative of earlier organic EL devices are Gurnee et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,862, issued Mar. 9, 1965; Gurnee U.S. Pat. No. 3,173,050, issued Mar. 9, 1965; Dresner, “Double Injection Electroluminescence in Anthracene”, RCA Review, 30, 322-334, (1969); and Dresner U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,167, issued Jan. 9, 1973. The organic layers in these devices, usually composed of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, were very thick (much greater than 1 μm). Consequently, operating voltages were very high, often greater than 100V.

More recent organic EL devices include an organic EL element consisting of extremely thin layers (e.g., less than 1.0 μm) between the anode and the cathode. Herein, the term “organic EL element” encompasses the layers between the anode and cathode. Reducing the thickness lowered the resistance of the organic layer and has enabled devices that operate at much lower voltage. In a basic two-layer EL device structure, described first in U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,429, one organic layer of the EL element adjacent to the anode is specifically chosen to transport holes, and therefore, it is referred to as the hole-transporting layer, and the other organic layer is specifically chosen to transport electrons, and is referred to as the electron-transporting layer. Recombination of the injected holes and electrons within the organic EL element results in efficient electroluminescence.

There have also been proposed three-layer organic EL devices that contain an organic light-emitting layer (LEL) between the hole-transporting layer and electron-transporting layer, such as that disclosed by Tang et al (J. Applied Physics, 65, Pages 3610-3616, (1989)). The light-emitting layer commonly consists of a host material doped with a guest material, also known as a dopant. Still further, there has been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,292 a four-layer EL element comprising a hole-injecting layer (HIL), a hole-transporting layer (HTL), a light-emitting layer (LEL) and an electron transport/injection layer (ETL). These structures have resulted in improved device efficiency.

Since these early inventions, further improvements in device materials have resulted in improved performance in attributes such as color, stability, luminance efficiency and manufacturability, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,061,569, 5,409,783, 5,554,450, 5,593,788, 5,683,823, 5,908,581, 5,928,802, 6,020,078, and 6,208,077, amongst others.

Notwithstanding these developments, there are continuing needs for organic EL device components, such as light-emitting materials, sometimes referred to as dopants, that will provide high luminance efficiencies combined with high color purity and long lifetimes. In particular, there is a need to be able to adjust the emission wavelength of the light-emitting material for various applications. For example, in addition to the need for blue, green, and red light-emitting materials there is a need for blue-green, yellow and orange light-emitting materials in order to formulate white-light emitting electroluminescent devices. For example, a device can emit white light by emitting a combination of colors, such as blue-green light and red light or a combination of blue light and orange light.

White EL devices can be used with color filters in full-color display devices. They can also be used with color filters in other multicolor or functional-color display devices. White EL devices for use in such display devices are easy to manufacture, and they produce reliable white light in each pixel of the displays. Although the OLEDs are referred to as white and can appear white or off-white, for this application, the CIE coordinates of the light emitted by the OLED are less important than the requirement that the spectral components passed by each of the color filters be present with sufficient intensity in that light. The devices must also have good stability in long-term operation. That is, as the devices are operated for extended periods of time, the luminance of the devices should decrease as little as possible.

Boron complexes have found only limited application as dopants in electroluminescent devices. In one example, a useful class of dopants is derived from the 5,6,5-tricyclic pyrromethene-BF₂ complexes and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,823; JP 09289081A, and JP 11097180A. These materials are characterized by typically narrow emission spectra, which may result in attractively high color purity. However, the green emitting unsubstituted or alkyl substituted pyrromethene-BF₂ complexes exhibit relatively low quantum efficiencies of electroluminescence. In order to achieve highly efficient OLEDs, one needs to use phenyl rings as substituents thereby extending the conjugated π-system. As a result, the emission wavelength typically becomes red-shifted yielding a reddish amber color, which is the shortest wavelength light that can be emitted by pyrromethene-BF2 complexes with good efficiency. Luminance efficient green or blue-green OLEDs do not appear to be conveniently obtained with pyrromethene BF₂ complexes used as dopants.

JP 2001294851A, US 20030198829A1 and US 20030201415A1 describe electroluminescent (EL) devices containing a boron dopant compound containing a bis(azinyl)methene boron complex. Such compounds, however, could stand some improvement in their quantum efficiency of emission.

Various substituents have been used on light-emitting materials in an attempt to improve their performance. For example, U. 20020168544A1, WO 2003010127A1, JP 2003272866, JP 2003238516A, and JP 2003081924A, describe red dopants with various substituents including dialkyl- and diarylamino substituents.

It remains a problem to be solved to provide a material for a light-emitting layer of an EL device that exhibits improved luminance efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an electroluminescent device comprising a light-emitting layer containing a host and a light-emitting material wherein the light-emitting material comprises a boron complex containing boron complexed by two ring nitrogens of a deprotonated bis(aromatic)amine or bis(aromatic)methene ligand wherein the boron complex bears a tertiary amine substituent group. The invention also includes the complex itself; a display or area lighting device including the device of the invention; a device of the invention emitting white light, and a process for emitting light from the device of the invention.

The invention provides a material for a light-emitting layer of an EL device that exhibits improved luminance efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a typical OLED device in which this invention may be used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An electroluminescent device of the invention may be a multilayer device comprising a cathode, an anode, charge-injecting layers (if necessary), charge-transporting layers, and a light-emitting layer (LEL) comprising a host and at least one light-emitting material. Desirably the light emitting layer comprises a boron complex wherein a boron is complexed by two ring nitrogens of a deprotonated bis(aromatic)amine or bis(aromatic)methene ligand and bears a tertiary amine substituent group.

The tertiary amine has a total of three alkyl or aromatic group substituents and thus does not include the nitrogens bonded directly to boron. The substituents on the tertiary amine may combine to form rings. Desirably, the tertiary amine substituent group is an aromatic tertiary amine group, which is an amine that is substituted with three independently selected aromatic groups.

In one desirable embodiment the complex has additional fused rings. Suitably, the complex may comprise at least five rings, more desirably the complex comprises at least seven rings. In one desirable embodiment, the boron is complexed by at least one azinyl ring.

By proper choice of substituents, it is believed that embodiments of the invention can be prepared that will emit light in the range of blue to red. This also includes blue-green, green, yellow, and orange light.

In one suitable embodiment, the boron is complexed by two ring nitrogens of a bis(aromatic)methene ligand. The methene bridge may be substituted or unsubstituted. In one alternative embodiment, the methene bridge is substituted with cyano substituent, a trifluoromethyl substituent, an aryl group, such as a phenyl ring group or a tolyl ring group, a heteroaryl ring group, such as a pyridine group, or an alkyl group, such as a methyl group. In another suitable embodiment, the substituent on the methene bridge may include a tertiary amine group.

In one desirable embodiment the boron complex is represented by Formula (I).

In Formula (1), Ar^(a) and Ar^(b) each independently represent the atoms necessary to form a heteroaromatic ring group. For example both Ar^(a) and Ar^(b) may form six-membered ring groups, or both may form five-membered ring groups, or one may form a six-membered ring group and one may form a five-membered ring group. In one suitable embodiment, at least one of Ar^(a) and Ar^(b) forms a six-membered aromatic ring. The rings formed by Ar^(a) and Ar^(b) may contain additional fused rings. For example Ar^(a) and Ar^(b) may be fused with independently selected benzene ring groups. In one suitable embodiment the substituents of Formula (1) are chosen so that at least five rings are present. Illustrative examples of Ar^(a) and Ar^(b) are pyridine ring groups, pyrazine ring groups, pyridazine ring groups, quinoline ring groups, isoquinoline ring groups, pyrrole ring groups, thiazole ring groups, selenazole ring groups, imidazole ring groups, oxazole ring groups, pyrazole ring groups, benzothiazole ring groups, benzoselenazole ring groups, benzimidazole ring groups, and benzoxazole ring groups.

In Formula (1), Y represents N or C—X, wherein X represents hydrogen or a substituent. For example, X may be a cyano substituent, an aromatic group, such as a phenyl group, an alkyl group, such as a methyl group.

G^(a) and G^(b) represent independently selected substituents. For example, G^(a) and G^(b) can each independently represent a halogen substituent, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, a sulfamoyl group, an acetamido group, a diarylamino group, and an aryloxy group. In one suitable embodiment G^(a) and G^(b) represent independently a fluoro substituent or an alkyl carboxylate group, such as an acetate group or propionate group. In one desirable embodiment G^(a) and G^(b) both represent a fluoro substituent.

In Formula (1), each L, when present, independently represents a bond or an independently selected linking group. The linking group connects the tertiary amine to the boron complex. The linking group can be a nonaromatic group, for example a methylene group, ethylene group or an ethene group. The linking group may contain heteroatoms, however, in one suitable embodiment the linking group is a hydrocarbon. In one desirable embodiment, the linking group is a divalent aromatic group, such as a phenylene group. Each n is 1 or 2 and m is 0, 1, or 2. In one suitable embodiment, n is 1 and m is 0 or 1. Each T represents an independently selected tertiary amine. The tertiary amine may include amines with aliphatic or aromatic substituents. For example, the tertiary amine may be substituted with methyl or ethyl groups. In one desirable embodiment, the tertiary amine is substituted with only aromatic groups, for example phenyl groups or tolyl groups. In one embodiment, the tertiary amine is substituted with only aryl groups. In one desirable embodiment, T represents N(Ar^(c))(Ar^(d)), wherein Ar^(c) and Ar^(d) represent independently selected aromatic groups, provided Ar^(c) and Ar^(d) may be bonded to one another. Illustrative examples of (L-T) are shown below.

In one suitable embodiment substituents of Formula (1) are selected to prevent or limit exciplex formation. That is, substituents are chosen that inhibit the formation of excited state complexes involving one or more compounds of Formula (1). Particularly useful substituents introduce steric interactions, such as one or more t-butyl groups, s-pentyl groups, or mesityl groups.

In one desirable embodiment the boron complex is represented by Formula (2a).

In Formula (2a), Y, G^(a) and G^(b) were described previously. Each Z^(a) independently represents an independently selected substituent, provided substituents may combine to form rings. For example, Z^(a) may represent an alkyl groups, such as a methyl group, or an aryl group, such as tolyl, mesityl or phenyl group. In Formula (2a), each u independently is 0-4. The boron complex of Formula 2a has at least one tertiary amine substituent. For example, one or more of Z^(a) may include a tertiary amine group. In the case where Y represents C—X, X may include a tertiary amine group.

In one desirable embodiment the boron complex is represented by (2b) or Formula (2c).

In Formula (2b) and Formula (2c), Z^(a), u, Y, G^(a) and G^(b) were described previously. J, J¹, and J² independently represent O, S, Se, or N-A, wherein A represents a substituent, such as a methyl group or a phenyl group. The boron complex of Formula (2b) or Formula (2c) has at least one tertiary amine substituent. For example, one or more of Z^(a) may include a tertiary amine group. In the case where Y represents C—X, X may include a tertiary amine group. In the case where J, J¹, or J² represent N-A, the substituent A may include a tertiary amine group.

In another suitable embodiment the boron complex is represented by (2d).

In Formula (2b), Z^(a), u, Y, G^(a) and G^(b) were described previously; each v independently is 0 to 3. Desirably, Formula (2d) contains additional fused rings. In one suitable embodiment Formula (2d) comprises at least five rings.

In another suitable embodiment the substituents of Formula (1) are selected to provide an emission in the range of 450-510 nm. In one desirable embodiment the substituents of Formula (I) are selected to provide an emission in the range of 460-490 nm.

In one suitable embodiment the substituents of Formula (1) are selected to provide an emission that has a primary maximum and a secondary maximum. In one desirable embodiment, one maximum is in the region of 460 to 470 nm and another maximum is in the region of 485 to 495 nm. In another embodiment, dopants useful in the invention are used in an electroluminescent device that emits white light. Embodiments of the invention provide improved luminance efficiency.

Suitably, the light-emitting layer of the device comprises a host and one or more light-emitting materials wherein at least one light-emitting material is a boron complex of the invention. The light-emitting material(s) is present in an amount of up to 15 wt % of the host, more typically from 0.1-5.0 wt % of the host.

The boron complex may also be an oligomer or a polymer having a main chain or a side chain of repeating units. The boron complex may be provided as a discrete material dispersed in the host material, or it may be bonded in some way to the host material, for example, covalently bonded into a polymeric host. In one useful embodiment, at least one layer of the EL device comprises polymeric material. In another suitable embodiment, at least two layers of the EL device comprise polymeric material.

Preferably, the host is selected such that the host absorbs light at a shorter wavelength than the light-emitting material (dopant) and the emission spectrum of the host overlaps with the absorption spectrum of the dopant. Desirable hosts include those based on an anthracene compound or a chelated oxinoid compound. In one desirable embodiment the host is represented by Formula (3a).

In Formula (3a), W₁-W₁₀ independently represents hydrogen or an independently selected substituent, provided that substituents may combine to form rings. In one suitable embodiment, W⁹ and W¹⁰ independently represent naphthyl groups, such as 2-naphthyl groups. In another desirable embodiment, W⁹ and W¹⁰ represent a naphthyl group and a biphenyl group. Examples of useful anthracene hosts include 9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene, 2-t-butyl-9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene and 9-(4-biphenyl)-10-(2-naphthyl)anthracene.

Metal complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline and similar derivatives, also known as metal-chelated oxinoid compounds, Formula (3b), constitute another class of useful host compounds.

wherein

-   -   M represents a metal;     -   n is an integer of from 1 to 4; and     -   Z independently in each occurrence represents the atoms         completing a nucleus having at least two fused aromatic rings.

The metal can be monovalent, divalent, trivalent, or tetravalent metal. The metal can, for example, be an alkali metal, such as lithium, sodium, or potassium; an alkaline earth metal, such as magnesium or calcium; a trivalent metal, such aluminum or gallium, or another metal such as zinc or zirconium. Generally any monovalent, divalent, trivalent, or tetravalent metal known to be a useful chelating metal can be employed.

Z completes a heterocyclic nucleus containing at least two fused aromatic rings, at least one of which is an azole or azine ring. Additional rings, including both aliphatic and aromatic rings, can be fused with the two required rings, if required. To avoid adding molecular bulk without improving on function the number of ring atoms is usually maintained at 18 or less.

Desirably, the metal is trivalent aluminum and Z represents the atoms necessary to complete a quinoline group.

Illustrative of useful chelated oxinoid compounds are aluminum trisoxine [alias, tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum(III)], magnesium bisoxine [alias, bis(8-quinolinolato)magnesium(II)], bis[benzo{f}-8-quinolinolato]zinc (II), bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinolato)aluminum(III)-μ-oxo-bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinolato) aluminum(III), indium trisoxine [alias, tris(8-quinolinolato)indium], aluminum tris(5-methyloxine) [alias, tris(5-methyl-8-quinolinolato) aluminum(III)], lithium oxine [alias, (8-quinolinolato)lithium(I)], gallium oxine [alias, tris(8-quinolinolato)gallium(III)], zirconium oxine [alias, tetra(8-quinolinolato)zirconium(IV)].

Useful boron complexes can be synthesized by methods known in the literature. Desirably a suitable ligand is prepared and the ligand is then complexed to boron. Suitably the ligand includes a tertiary amine group. Tertiary amines may be synthesized by many different procedures. For example, they may be prepared by reaction of a secondary amine with a aromatic halide or sulfonate in the presence of a palladium catalyst, phosphine ligand, and a base, for example, see B. Yang and S. Buchwald, J. Organomet. Chem., 576, (1999). For examples of boron complexation reactions see G, Sathyamoorthi, M. Soong, T. Ross, J. Boyer, Heteroatom Chem., 4, 603 (1993) and J. Douglass, P. Barelski, R. Blankenship, J. Heterocycle. Chem., 10, 255 (1973).

Illustrative examples of boron complexes useful in the present invention include the following compounds.

Unless otherwise specifically stated, use of the term “substituted” or “substituent” means any group or atom other than hydrogen. Additionally, when the term “group” is used, it means that when a substituent group contains a substitutable hydrogen, it is also intended to encompass not only the substituent's unsubstituted form, but also its form further substituted with any substituent group groups as herein mentioned, so long as the substituent does not destroy properties necessary for device utility. Suitably, a substituent group may be halogen or may be bonded to the remainder of the molecule by an atom of carbon, silicon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, selenium, or boron. The substituent may be, for example, halogen, such as chloro, bromo or fluoro; nitro; hydroxyl; cyano; carboxyl; or groups which may be further substituted, such as alkyl, including straight or branched chain or cyclic alkyl, such as methyl, trifluoromethyl, ethyl, t-butyl, 3-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)propyl, and tetradecyl; alkenyl, such as ethylene, 2-butene; alkoxy, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, 2-methoxyethoxy, sec-butoxy, hexyloxy, 2-ethylhexyloxy, tetradecyloxy, 2-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)ethoxy, and 2-dodecyloxyethoxy; aryl such as phenyl, 4-t-butylphenyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, naphthyl; aryloxy, such as phenoxy, 2-methylphenoxy, alpha- or beta-naphthyloxy, and 4-tolyloxy; carbonamido, such as acetamido, benzamido, butyramido, tetradecanamido, alpha-(2,4-di-t-pentyl-phenoxy)acetamido, alpha-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)butyramido, alpha-(3-pentadecylphenoxy)-hexanamido, alpha-(4-hydroxy-3-t-butylphenoxy)-tetradecanamido, 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo-5-tetradecylpyrrolin-1-yl, N-methyltetradecanamido, N-succinimido, N-phthalimido, 2,5-dioxo-1-oxazolidinyl, 3-dodecyl-2,5-dioxo-1-imidazolyl, and N-acetyl-N-dodecylamino, ethoxycarbonylamino, phenoxycarbonylamino, benzyloxycarbonylamino, hexadecyloxycarbonylamino, 2,4-di-t-butylphenoxycarbonylamino, phenylcarbonylamino, 2,5-(di-t-pentylphenyl)carbonylamino,p-dodecyl-phenylcarbonylamino, p-tolylcarbonylamino, N-methylureido, N,N-dimethylureido, N-methyl-N-dodecylureido, N-hexadecylureido, N,N-dioctadecylureido, N,N-dioctyl-N′-ethylureido, N-phenylureido, N,N-diphenylureido, N-phenyl-N-p-tolylureido, N-(m-hexadecylphenyl)ureido, N,N-(2,5-di-t-pentylphenyl)-N′-ethylureido, and t-butylcarbonamido; sulfonamido, such as methylsulfonamido, benzenesulfonamido, p-tolylsulfonamido, p-dodecylbenzenesulfonamido, N-methyltetradecylsulfonamido, N,N-dipropyl-sulfamoylamino, and hexadecylsulfonamido; sulfamoyl, such as N-methylsulfamoyl, N-ethylsulfamoyl, N,N-dipropylsulfamoyl, N-hexadecylsulfamoyl, N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl, N-[3-(dodecyloxy)propyl]sulfamoyl, N-[4-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)butyl]sulfamoyl, N-methyl-N-tetradecylsulfamoyl, and N-dodecylsulfamoyl; carbamoyl, such as N-methylcarbamoyl, N,N-dibutylcarbamoyl, N-octadecylcarbamoyl, N-[4-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)butyl]carbamoyl, N-methyl-N-tetradecylcarbamoyl, and N,N-dioctylcarbamoyl; acyl, such as acetyl, (2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)acetyl, phenoxycarbonyl, p-dodecyloxyphenoxycarbonyl methoxycarbonyl, butoxycarbonyl, tetradecyloxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, 3-pentadecyloxycarbonyl, and dodecyloxycarbonyl; sulfonyl, such as methoxysulfonyl, octyloxysulfonyl, tetradecyloxysulfonyl, 2-ethylhexyloxysulfonyl, phenoxysulfonyl, 2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxysulfonyl, methylsulfonyl, octylsulfonyl, 2-ethylhexylsulfonyl, dodecylsulfonyl, hexadecylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, 4-nonylphenylsulfonyl, and p-tolylsulfonyl; sulfonyloxy, such as dodecylsulfonyloxy, and hexadecylsulfonyloxy; sulfinyl, such as methylsulfinyl, octylsulfinyl, 2-ethylhexylsulfinyl, dodecylsulfinyl, hexadecylsulfinyl, phenylsulfinyl, 4-nonylphenylsulfinyl, and p-tolylsulfinyl; thio, such as ethylthio, octylthio, benzylthio, tetradecylthio, 2-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)ethylthio, phenylthio, 2-butoxy-5-t-octylphenylthio, and p-tolylthio; acyloxy, such as acetyloxy, benzoyloxy, octadecanoyloxy, p-dodecylamidobenzoyloxy, N-phenylcarbamoyloxy, N-ethylcarbamoyloxy, and cyclohexylcarbonyloxy; amine, such as phenylanilino, 2-chloroanilino, diethylamine, dodecylamine; imino, such as 1 (N-phenylimido)ethyl, N-succinimido or 3-benzylhydantoinyl; phosphate, such as dimethylphosphate and ethylbutylphosphate; phosphite, such as diethyl and dihexylphosphite; a heterocyclic group, a heterocyclic oxy group or a heterocyclic thio group, each of which may be substituted and which contain a 3 to 7 membered heterocyclic ring composed of carbon atoms and at least one hetero atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous, or boron, such as 2-furyl, 2-thienyl, 2-benzimidazolyloxy or 2-benzothiazolyl; quaternary ammonium, such as triethylammonium; quaternary phosphonium, such as triphenylphosphonium; and silyloxy, such as trimethylsilyloxy.

If desired, the substituents may themselves be further substituted one or more times with the described substituent groups. The particular substituents used may be selected by those skilled in the art to attain the desired desirable properties for a specific application and can include, for example, electron-withdrawing groups, electron-donating groups, and steric groups. When a molecule may have two or more substituents, the substituents may be joined together to form a ring such as a fused ring unless otherwise provided. Generally, the above groups and substituents thereof may include those having up to 48 carbon atoms, typically 1 to 36 carbon atoms and usually less than 24 carbon atoms, but greater numbers are possible depending on the particular substituents selected.

General Device Architecture

The present invention can be employed in many EL device configurations using small molecule materials, oligomeric materials, polymeric materials, or combinations thereof. These include very simple structures comprising a single anode and cathode to more complex devices, such as passive matrix displays comprised of orthogonal arrays of anodes and cathodes to form pixels, and active-matrix displays where each pixel is controlled independently, for example, with thin film transistors (TFTs).

There are numerous configurations of the organic layers wherein the present invention can be successfully practiced. The essential requirements of an OLED are an anode, a cathode, and an organic light-emitting layer located between the anode and cathode. Additional layers may be employed as more fully described hereafter.

A typical structure according to the present invention and especially useful for a small molecule device, is shown in FIG. 1 and is comprised of a substrate 101, an anode 103, a hole-injecting layer 105, a hole-transporting layer 107, a light-emitting layer 109, an electron-transporting layer 111, and a cathode 113. These layers are described in detail below. Note that the substrate 101 may alternatively be located adjacent to the cathode 113, or the substrate 101 may actually constitute the anode 103 or cathode 113. The organic layers between the anode 103 and cathode 113 are conveniently referred to as the organic EL element. Also, the total combined thickness of the organic layers is desirably less than 500 nm. If the device includes phosphorescent material, a hole-blocking layer, located between the light-emitting layer and the electron-transporting layer, may be present.

The anode 103 and cathode 113 of the OLED are connected to a voltage/current source through electrical conductors. The OLED is operated by applying a potential between the anode 103 and cathode 113 such that the anode 103 is at a more positive potential than the cathode 113. Holes are injected into the organic EL element from the anode 103 and electrons are injected into the organic EL element at the cathode 113. Enhanced device stability can sometimes be achieved when the OLED is operated in an AC mode where, for some time period in the AC cycle, the potential bias is reversed and no current flows. An example of an AC driven OLED is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,678.

Substrate

The OLED device of this invention is typically provided over a supporting substrate 101 where either the cathode 113 or anode 103 can be in contact with the substrate. The electrode in contact with the substrate 101 is conveniently referred to as the bottom electrode. Conventionally, the bottom electrode is the anode 103, but this invention is not limited to that configuration. The substrate 101 can either be light transmissive or opaque, depending on the intended direction of light emission. The light transmissive property is desirable for viewing the EL emission through the substrate 101. Transparent glass or plastic is commonly employed in such cases. The substrate 101 can be a complex structure comprising multiple layers of materials. This is typically the case for active matrix substrates wherein TFTs are provided below the OLED layers. It is still necessary that the substrate 101, at least in the emissive pixelated areas, be comprised of largely transparent materials such as glass or polymers. For applications where the EL emission is viewed through the top electrode, the transmissive characteristic of the bottom support is immaterial, and therefore the substrate can be light transmissive, light absorbing or light reflective. Substrates for use in this case include, but are not limited to, glass, plastic, semiconductor materials such as silicon, ceramics, and circuit board materials. Again, the substrate 101 can be a complex structure comprising multiple layers of materials such as found in active matrix TFT designs. It is necessary to provide in these device configurations a light-transparent top electrode.

Anode

When the desired electroluminescent light emission (EL) is viewed through the anode, the anode 103 should be transparent or substantially transparent to the emission of interest. Common transparent anode materials used in this invention are indium-tin oxide (ITO), indium-zinc oxide (IZO) and tin oxide, but other metal oxides can work including, but not limited to, aluminum- or indium-doped zinc oxide, magnesium-indium oxide, and nickel-tungsten oxide. In addition to these oxides, metal nitrides, such as gallium nitride, and metal selenides, such as zinc selenide, and metal sulfides, such as zinc sulfide, can be used as the anode 103. For applications where EL emission is viewed only through the cathode 113, the transmissive characteristics of the anode 103 are immaterial and any conductive material can be used, transparent, opaque or reflective. Example conductors for this application include, but are not limited to, gold, iridium, molybdenum, palladium, and platinum. Typical anode materials, transmissive or otherwise, have a work function of 4.1 eV or greater. Desired anode materials are commonly deposited by any suitable means such as evaporation, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, or electrochemical means. Anodes can be patterned using well-known photolithographic processes. Optionally, anodes may be polished prior to application of other layers to reduce surface roughness so as to minimize short circuits or enhance reflectivity.

Cathode

When light emission is viewed solely through the anode 103, the cathode 113 used in this invention can be comprised of nearly any conductive material. Desirable materials have good film-forming properties to ensure good contact with the underlying organic layer, promote electron injection at low voltage, and have good stability. Useful cathode materials often contain a low work function metal (<4.0 eV) or metal alloy. One useful cathode material is comprised of a Mg:Ag alloy wherein the percentage of silver is in the range of 1 to 20%, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,221. Another suitable class of cathode materials includes bilayers comprising the cathode and a thin electron-injection layer (EIL) in contact with an organic layer (e.g., an electron transporting layer (ETL)), the cathode being capped with a thicker layer of a conductive metal. Here, the EIL preferably includes a low work function metal or metal salt, and if so, the thicker capping layer does not need to have a low work function. One such cathode is comprised of a thin layer of LiF followed by a thicker layer of Al as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,572. An ETL material doped with an alkali metal, for example, Li-doped Alq, is another example of a useful EIL. Other useful cathode material sets include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,059,861, 5,059,862, and 6,140,763.

When light emission is viewed through the cathode, the cathode 113 must be transparent or nearly transparent. For such applications, metals must be thin or one must use transparent conductive oxides, or a combination of these materials. Optically transparent cathodes have been described in more detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,885,211, 5,247,190, JP 3,234,963, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,703,436, 5,608,287, 5,837,391, 5,677,572, 5,776,622, 5,776,623, 5,714,838, 5,969,474, 5,739,545, 5,981,306, 6,137,223, 6,140,763, 6,172,459, EP 1 076 368, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,278,236, and 6,284,3936. Cathode materials are typically deposited by any suitable method such as evaporation, sputtering, or chemical vapor deposition. When needed, patterning can be achieved through many well known methods including, but not limited to, through-mask deposition, integral shadow masking as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,380 and EP 0 732 868, laser ablation, and selective chemical vapor deposition.

Hole-Injecting Layer (HIL)

A hole-injecting layer 105 may be provided between anode 103 and hole-transporting layer 107. The hole-injecting layer can serve to improve the film formation property of subsequent organic layers and to facilitate injection of holes into the hole-transporting layer 107. Suitable materials for use in the hole-injecting layer 105 include, but are not limited to, porphyrinic compounds as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,432, plasma-deposited fluorocarbon polymers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,075, and some aromatic amines, for example, MTDATA (4,4′,4″-tris[(3-methylphenyl)phenylamino]triphenylamine). Alternative hole-injecting materials reportedly useful in organic EL devices are described in EP 0 891 121 A1 and EP 1 029 909 A1. A hole-injection layer is conveniently used in the present invention, and is desirably a plasma-deposited fluorocarbon polymer. The thickness of a hole-injection layer containing a plasma-deposited fluorocarbon polymer can be in the range of 0.2 nm to 15 nm and suitably in the range of 0.3 to 1.5 nm.

Hole-Transporting Layer (HTL)

While not always necessary, it is often useful to include a hole-transporting layer in an OLED device. The hole-transporting layer 107 of the organic EL device contains at least one hole-transporting compound such as an aromatic tertiary amine, where the latter is understood to be a compound containing at least one trivalent nitrogen atom that is bonded only to carbon atoms, at least one of which is a member of an aromatic ring. In one form the aromatic tertiary amine can be an arylamine, such as a monoarylamine, diarylamine, triarylamine, or a polymeric arylamine. Exemplary monomeric triarylamines are illustrated by Klupfel et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,730. Other suitable triarylamines substituted with one or more vinyl radicals and/or comprising at least one active hydrogen containing group are disclosed by Brantley et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,450 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,520.

A more preferred class of aromatic tertiary amines is those which include at least two aromatic tertiary amine moieties as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,432 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,569. Such compounds include those represented by structural formula (A).

wherein Q₁ and Q₂ are independently selected aromatic tertiary amine moieties and G is a linking group such as an arylene, cycloalkylene, or alkylene group of a carbon to carbon bond. In one embodiment, at least one of Q₁ or Q₂ contains a polycyclic fused ring structure, e.g., a naphthalene. When G is an aryl group, it is conveniently a phenylene, biphenylene, or naphthalene moiety.

A useful class of triarylamines satisfying structural formula (A) and containing two triarylamine moieties is represented by structural formula (B):

where

-   -   R₁ and R₂ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an aryl         group, or an alkyl group or R₁ and R₂ together represent the         atoms completing a cycloalkyl group; and     -   R₃ and R₄ each independently represents an aryl group, which is         in turn substituted with a diaryl substituted amino group, as         indicated by structural formula (C):

wherein R₅ and R₆ are independently selected aryl groups. In one embodiment, at least one of R₅ or R₆ contains a polycyclic fused ring structure, e.g., a naphthalene.

Another class of aromatic tertiary amines is the tetraaryldiamines. Desirable tetraaryldiamines include two diarylamino groups, such as indicated by formula (C), linked through an arylene group. Useful tetraaryldiamines include those represented by formula (D).

wherein

-   -   each Are is an independently selected arylene group, such as a         phenylene or anthracene moiety,     -   n is an integer of from 1 to 4, and     -   Ar, R₇, R₈, and R₉ are independently selected aryl groups.

In a typical embodiment, at least one of Ar, R₇, R₈, and R₉ is a polycyclic fused ring structure, e.g., a naphthalene.

The various alkyl, alkylene, aryl, and arylene moieties of the foregoing structural formulae (A), (B), (C), (D), can each in turn be substituted. Typical substituents include alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, and halide such as fluoride, chloride, and bromide. The various alkyl and alkylene moieties typically contain from about 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The cycloalkyl moieties can contain from 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, but typically contain five, six, or seven ring carbon atoms—e.g., cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and cycloheptyl ring structures. The aryl and arylene moieties are usually phenyl and phenylene moieties.

The hole-transporting layer can be formed of a single tertiary amine compound or a mixture of such compounds. Specifically, one may employ a triarylamine, such as a triarylamine satisfying the formula (B), in combination with a tetraaryldiamine, such as indicated by formula (D). Illustrative of useful aromatic tertiary amines are the following:

-   -   1,1-Bis(4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl)cyclohexane (TAPC)     -   1,1-Bis(4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl)-4-methylcyclohexane     -   1,1-Bis(4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl)-4-phenylcyclohexane     -   1,1-Bis(4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl)-3-phenylpropane (TAPPP)     -   N,N,N′,N′-tetraphenyl-4,4′″-diamino-1,1′:4′,1″:4″,1″′-quaterphenyl     -   Bis(4-dimethylamino-2-methylphenyl)phenylmethane     -   1,4-bis[2-[4-[N,N-di(p-toly)amino]phenyl]vinyl]benzene (BDTAPVB)     -   N,N,N′,N′-Tetra-p-tolyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl (TTB)     -   N,N,N′,N′-Tetraphenyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl     -   N,N,N′,N′-tetra-1-naphthyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl     -   N,N,N′,N′-tetra-2-naphthyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl     -   N-Phenylcarbazole     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl (NPB)     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-(2-naphthyl)amino]biphenyl (TNB)     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]p-terphenyl     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(2-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(3-acenaphthenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl     -   1,5-Bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]naphthalene     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(9-anthryl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(1-anthryl)-N-phenylamino]-p-terphenyl     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(2-phenanthryl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(8-fluoranthenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(2-pyrenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(2-naphthacenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(2-perylenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(1-coronenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl     -   2,6-Bis(di-p-tolylamino)naphthalene     -   2,6-Bis[di-(1-naphthyl)amino]naphthalene     -   2,6-Bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-(2-naphthyl)amino]naphthalene     -   N,N,N′,N′-Tetra(2-naphthyl)-4,4″-diamino-p-terphenyl     -   4,4′-Bis {N-phenyl-N-[4-(1-naphthyl)-phenyl]amino}biphenyl     -   2,6-Bis[N,N-di(2-naphthyl)amino]fluorene     -   4,4′,4″-tris[(3-methylphenyl)phenylamino]triphenylamine (MTDATA)     -   4,4′-Bis[N-(3-methylphenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl (TPD)

Another class of useful hole-transporting materials includes polycyclic aromatic compounds as described in EP 1 009 041. Tertiary aromatic amines with more than two amine groups may be used including oligomeric materials. In addition, polymeric hole-transporting materials can be used such as poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK), polythiophenes, polypyrrole, polyaniline, and copolymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(4-styrenesulfonate) also called PEDOT/PSS. It is also possible for the hole-transporting layer to comprise two or more sublayers of differing compositions, the composition of each sublayer being as described above. The thickness of the hole-transporting layer can be between 10 and about 500 nm and suitably between 50 and 300 nm.

Light-Emitting Layer (LEL)

In addition to the light-emitting materials of this invention, additional light emitting materials may be used in the EL device, including other fluorescent materials. Other fluorescent materials may be used in the same layer as the boron complex material, in adjacent layers, in adjacent pixels, or any combination.

As more fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,769,292 and 5,935,721, the light-emitting layer (LEL) of the organic EL element includes a luminescent material where electroluminescence is produced as a result of electron-hole pair recombination. The light-emitting layer can be comprised of a single material, but more commonly consists of a host material doped with a guest emitting material or materials where light emission comes primarily from the emitting materials and can be of any color. The host materials in the light-emitting layer can be an electron-transporting material, as defined below, a hole-transporting material, as defined above, or another material or combination of materials that support hole-electron recombination. Fluorescent emitting materials are typically incorporated at 0.01 to 10% by weight of the host material.

The host and emitting materials can be small non-polymeric molecules or polymeric materials such as polyfluorenes and polyvinylarylenes (e.g., poly(p-phenylenevinylene), PPV). In the case of polymers, small-molecule emitting materials can be molecularly dispersed into a polymeric host, or the emitting materials can be added by copolymerizing a minor constituent into a host polymer. Host materials may be mixed together in order to improve film formation, electrical properties, light emission efficiency, operating lifetime, or manufacturability. The host may comprise a material that has good hole-transporting properties and a material that has good electron-transporting properties.

An important relationship for choosing a fluorescent material as a guest emitting material is a comparison of the excited singlet-state energies of the host and the fluorescent material. It is highly desirable that the excited singlet-state energy of the fluorescent material be lower than that of the host material. The excited singlet-state energy is defined as the difference in energy between the emitting singlet state and the ground state. For non-emissive hosts, the lowest excited state of the same electronic spin as the ground state is considered the emitting state.

Host and emitting materials known to be of use include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,768,292, 5,141,671, 5,150,006, 5,151,629, 5,405,709, 5,484,922, 5,593,788, 5,645,948, 5,683,823, 5,755,999, 5,928,802, 5,935,720, 5,935,721, and 6,020,078.

As described previously, metal complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline and similar derivatives, also known as metal-chelated oxinoid compounds (Formula E), constitute one class of useful host compounds capable of supporting electroluminescence, and are particularly suitable for light emission of wavelengths longer than 500 nm, e.g., green, yellow, orange, and red.

wherein

-   -   M represents a metal;     -   n is an integer of from 1 to 4; and     -   Z independently in each occurrence represents the atoms         completing a nucleus having at least two fused aromatic rings.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the metal can be monovalent, divalent, trivalent, or tetravalent metal. The metal can, for example, be an alkali metal, such as lithium, sodium, or potassium; an alkaline earth metal, such as magnesium or calcium; a trivalent metal, such aluminum or gallium, or another metal such as zinc or zirconium. Generally any monovalent, divalent, trivalent, or tetravalent metal known to be a useful chelating metal can be employed.

Z completes a heterocyclic nucleus containing at least two fused aromatic rings, at least one of which is an azole or azine ring. Additional rings, including both aliphatic and aromatic rings, can be fused with the two required rings, if required. To avoid adding molecular bulk without improving on function the number of ring atoms is usually maintained at 18 or less.

Illustrative of useful chelated oxinoid compounds are the following:

-   -   CO-1: Aluminum trisoxine [alias,         tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum(III)]     -   CO-2: Magnesium bisoxine [alias,         bis(8-quinolinolato)magnesium(II)]     -   CO-3: Bis[benzo {f}-8-quinolinolato]zinc (II)     -   CO-4:         Bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinolato)aluminum(III)-μ-oxo-bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinolato)         aluminum(III)     -   CO-5: Indium trisoxine [alias, tris(8-quinolinolato)indium]     -   CO-6: Aluminum tris(5-methyloxine) [alias,         tris(5-methyl-8-quinolinolato) aluminum(III)]     -   CO-7: Lithium oxine [alias, (8-quinolinolato)lithium(I)]     -   CO-8: Gallium oxine [alias, tris(8-quinolinolato)gallium(III)]     -   CO-9: Zirconium oxine [alias,         tetra(8-quinolinolato)zirconium(IV)]

As already mentioned, derivatives of 9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene (Formula F) constitute one class of useful host materials capable of supporting electroluminescence, and are particularly suitable for light emission of wavelengths longer than 400 nm, e.g., blue, green, yellow, orange or red.

wherein: R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, and R⁶ represent one or more substituents on each ring where each substituent is individually selected from the following groups:

-   -   Group 1: hydrogen, or alkyl of from 1 to 24 carbon atoms;     -   Group 2: aryl or substituted aryl of from 5 to 20 carbon atoms;     -   Group 3: carbon atoms from 4 to 24 necessary to complete a fused         aromatic ring of anthracenyl; pyrenyl, or perylenyl;     -   Group 4: heteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl of from 5 to 24         carbon atoms as necessary to complete a fused heteroaromatic         ring of furyl, thienyl, pyridyl, quinolinyl or other         heterocyclic systems;     -   Group 5: alkoxylamino, alkylamino, or arylamino of from 1 to 24         carbon atoms; and     -   Group 6: fluorine, chlorine, bromine or cyano.

Illustrative examples include 9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene and 2-t-butyl-9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene. Other anthracene derivatives can be useful as a host in the LEL, including derivatives of 9,10-bis[4-(2,2-diphenylethenyl)phenyl]anthracene.

Benzazole derivatives (Formula G) constitute another class of useful host materials capable of supporting electroluminescence, and are particularly suitable for light emission of wavelengths longer than 400 nm, e.g., blue, green, yellow, orange or red.

wherein:

-   -   n is an integer of 3 to 8;     -   Z is O, NR or S; and     -   R and R′ are individually hydrogen; alkyl of from 1 to 24 carbon         atoms, for example, propyl, t-butyl, heptyl, and the like; aryl         or hetero-atom substituted aryl of from 5 to 20 carbon atoms for         example phenyl and naphthyl, furyl, thienyl, pyridyl, quinolinyl         and other heterocyclic systems; or halo such as chloro, fluoro;         or atoms necessary to complete a fused aromatic ring; and     -   L is a linkage unit consisting of alkyl, aryl, substituted         alkyl, or substituted aryl, which connects the multiple         benzazoles together. L may be either conjugated with the         multiple benzazoles or not in conjugation with them. An example         of a useful benzazole is         2,2′,2″-(1,3,5-phenylene)tris[1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole].

Styrylarylene derivatives as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,029 and JP 08333569 are also useful hosts for blue emission. For example, 9,10-bis[4-(2,2-diphenylethenyl)phenyl]anthracene and 4,4′-bis(2,2-diphenylethenyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (DPVBi) are useful hosts for blue emission.

Useful fluorescent emitting materials include, but are not limited to, derivatives of anthracene, tetracene, xanthene, perylene, rubrene, coumarin, rhodamine, and quinacridone, dicyanomethylenepyran compounds, thiopyran compounds, polymethine compounds, pyrylium and thiapyrylium compounds, fluorene derivatives, periflanthene derivatives, indenoperylene derivatives, bis(azinyl)amine boron compounds, bis(azinyl)methane compounds, and carbostyryl compounds. Illustrative examples of useful materials include, but are not limited to, the following:

X R1 R2 X R1 R2 L9  O H H L23 O H H L10 O H Methyl L24 O H Methyl L11 O Methyl H L25 O Methyl H L12 O Methyl Methyl L26 O Methyl Methyl L13 O H t-butyl L27 O H t-butyl L14 O t-butyl H L28 O t-butyl H L15 O t-butyl t-butyl L29 O t-butyl t-butyl L16 S H H L30 S H H L17 S H Methyl L31 S H Methyl L18 S Methyl H L32 S Methyl H L19 S Methyl Methyl L33 S Methyl Methyl L20 S H t-butyl L34 S H t-butyl L21 S t-butyl H L35 S t-butyl H L22 S t-butyl t-butyl L36 S t-butyl t-butyl

R R L37 phenyl L41 phenyl L38 methyl L42 methyl L39 t-butyl L43 t-butyl L40 mesityl L44 mesityl

In addition to the light-emitting materials of this invention, light-emitting phosphorescent materials may be used in the EL device. For convenience, the phosphorescent complex guest material may be referred to herein as a phosphorescent material. The phosphorescent material typically includes one or more ligands, for example monoanionic ligands that can be coordinated to a metal through an sp² carbon and a heteroatom. Conveniently, the ligand can be phenylpyridine (ppy) or derivatives or analogs thereof. Examples of some useful phosphorescent organometallic materials include tris(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C²′)iridium(III), bis(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C²)iridium(III)(acetylacetonate), and bis(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C^(2′))platinum(II). Usefully, many phosphorescent organometallic materials emit in the green region of the spectrum, that is, with a maximum emission in the range of 510 to 570 nm.

Phosphorescent materials may be used singly or in combinations other phosphorescent materials, either in the same or different layers. Phosphorescent materials and suitable hosts are described in WO 00/57676, WO 00/70655, WO 01/41512 A1, WO 02/15645 A1, US 2003/0017361 A1, WO 01/93642 A1, WO 01/39234 A2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,475 B1, WO 02/071813 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,651 B2, US 2002/0197511 A1, WO 02/074015 A2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,455 B1, US 2003/0072964 A1, U.S. 2003/0068528 A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,413,656 B1, 6,515,298 B2, 6,451,415 B1, 6,097,147, US 2003/0124381 A1, US 2003/0059646 A1, US 2003/0054198 A1, EP 1 239 526 A2, EP 1 238 981 A2, EP 1 244 155 A2, US 2002/0100906 A1, US 2003/0068526 A1, US 2003/0068535 A1, JP 2003073387A, JP 2003 073388A, US 2003/0141809 A1, US 2003/0040627 A1, JP 2003059667A, JP 2003073665A, and US 2002/0121638 A1.

The emission wavelengths of cyclometallated Ir(III) complexes of the type IrL₃ and IrL₂L′, such as the green-emitting fac-tris(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C^(2′))iridium(III) and bis(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C^(2′))iridium(III)(acetylacetonate) may be shifted by substitution of electron donating or withdrawing groups at appropriate positions on the cyclometallating ligand L, or by choice of different heterocycles for the cyclometallating ligand L. The emission wavelengths may also be shifted by choice of the ancillary ligand L′. Examples of red emitters are the bis(2-(2′-benzothienyl)pyridinato-N,C³′)iridium(III)(acetylacetonate) and tris(2-phenylisoquinolinato-N,C)iridium(III). A blue-emitting example is bis(2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C²′)iridium(III)(picolinate).

Red electrophosphorescence has been reported, using bis(2-(2′-benzo[4,5-a]thienyl)pyridinato-N,C³)iridium(acetylacetonate) [Btp₂Ir(acac)] as the phosphorescent material (C. Adachi, S. Lamansky, M. A. Baldo, R. C. Kwong, M. E. Thompson, and S. R. Forrest, App. Phys. Lett., 78, 1622-1624 (2001)).

Other important phosphorescent materials include cyclometallated Pt(II) complexes such as cis-bis(2-phenylpyridinato-N,C^(2′))platinum(II), cis-bis(2-(2′-thienyl)pyridinato-N,C³′) platinum(II), cis-bis(2-(2′-thienyl)quinolinato-N,C^(5′)) platinum(II), or (2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridinato-N,C²′) platinum (II) (acetylacetonate). Pt (II) porphyrin complexes such as 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-21H, 23H-porphine platinum(II) are also useful phosphorescent materials.

Still other examples of useful phosphorescent materials include coordination complexes of the trivalent lanthanides such as Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ (J. Kido et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., 65, 2124 (1994)).

Suitable host materials for phosphorescent materials should be selected so that transfer of a triplet exciton can occur efficiently from the host material to the phosphorescent material but cannot occur efficiently from the phosphorescent material to the host material. Therefore, it is highly desirable that the triplet energy of the phosphorescent material be lower than the triplet energy of the host. Generally speaking, a large triplet energy implies a large optical bandgap. However, the band gap of the host should not be chosen so large as to cause an unacceptable barrier to injection of charge carriers into the light-emitting layer and an unacceptable increase in the drive voltage of the OLED. Suitable host materials are described in WO 00/70655 A2; 01/39234 A2; 01/93642 A1; 02/074015 A2; 02/15645 A1, and U.S. 20020117662. Suitable hosts include certain aryl amines, triazoles, indoles and carbazole compounds. Examples of desirable hosts are 4,4′-N,N′-dicarbazole-biphenyl, otherwise known as 4,4′-bis(carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl or CBP; 4,4′-N,N′-dicarbazole-2,2′-dimethyl-biphenyl, otherwise known as 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-bis(carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl or CDBP; 1,3-bis(N,N′-dicarbazole)benzene, otherwise known as 1,3-bis(carbazol-9-yl)benzene, and poly(N-vinylcarbazole), including their derivatives.

Desirable host materials are capable of forming a continuous film.

Hole-Blocking Layer (HBL)

In addition to suitable hosts, an OLED device employing a phosphorescent material often requires at least one hole-blocking layer placed between the electron-transporting layer 111 and the light-emitting layer 109 to help confine the excitons and recombination events to the light-emitting layer comprising the host and phosphorescent material. In this case, there should be an energy barrier for hole migration from the host into the hole-blocking layer, while electrons should pass readily from the hole-blocking layer into the light-emitting layer comprising a host and a phosphorescent material. The first requirement entails that the ionization potential of the hole-blocking layer be larger than that of the light-emitting layer 109, desirably by 0.2 eV or more. The second requirement entails that the electron affinity of the hole-blocking layer not greatly exceed that of the light-emitting layer 109, and desirably be either less than that of light-emitting layer or not exceed that of the light-emitting layer by more than about 0.2 eV.

When used with an electron-transporting layer whose characteristic luminescence is green, such as an Alq-containing electron-transporting layer as described below, the requirements concerning the energies of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the material of the hole-blocking layer frequently result in a characteristic luminescence of the hole-blocking layer at shorter wavelengths than that of the electron-transporting layer, such as blue, violet, or ultraviolet luminescence. Thus, it is desirable that the characteristic luminescence of the material of a hole-blocking layer be blue, violet, or ultraviolet. It is further desirable, but not absolutely required, that the triplet energy of the hole-blocking material be greater than that of the phosphorescent material. Suitable hole-blocking materials are described in WO 00/70655A2 and WO 01/93642 A1. Two examples of useful hole-blocking materials are bathocuproine (BCP) and bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinolato)(4-phenylphenolato)aluminum(III) (BAlq). The characteristic luminescence of BCP is in the ultraviolet, and that of BAlq is blue. Metal complexes other than BAlq are also known to block holes and excitons as described in US 20030068528. In addition, US 20030175553 A1 describes the use of fac-tris(1-phenylpyrazolato-N,C^(2′))iridium(III) (Irppz) for this purpose.

When a hole-blocking layer is used, its thickness can be between 2 and 100 nm and suitably between 5 and 10 nm.

Electron-Transporting Layer (ETL)

Desirable thin film-forming materials for use in forming the electron-transporting layer 111 of the organic EL devices of this invention are metal-chelated oxinoid compounds, including chelates of oxine itself (also commonly referred to as 8-quinolinol or 8-hydroxyquinoline). Such compounds help to inject and transport electrons, exhibit high levels of performance, and are readily fabricated in the form of thin films. Exemplary of contemplated oxinoid compounds are those satisfying structural formula (E), previously described.

Other electron-transporting materials suitable for use in the electron-transporting layer 111 include various butadiene derivatives as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,429 and various heterocyclic optical brighteners as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,507. Benzazoles satisfying structural formula (G) are also useful electron transporting materials. Triazines are also known to be useful as electron transporting materials.

If both a hole-blocking layer and an electron-transporting layer 111 are used, electrons should pass readily from the electron-transporting layer 111 into the hole-blocking layer. Therefore, the electron affinity of the electron-transporting layer 111 should not greatly exceed that of the hole-blocking layer. Desirably, the electron affinity of the electron-transporting layer should be less than that of the hole-blocking layer or not exceed it by more than about 0.2 eV.

If an electron-transporting layer is used, its thickness may be between 2 and 100 nm and suitably between 5 and 20 nm.

Other Useful Organic Layers and Device Architecture

In some instances, layers 109 through 111 can optionally be collapsed into a single layer that serves the function of supporting both light emission and electron transportation. The hole-blocking layer, when present, and layer 111 may also be collapsed into a single layer that functions to block holes or excitons, and supports electron transport. It also known in the art that emitting materials may be included in the hole-transporting layer 107. In that case, the hole-transporting material may serve as a host. Multiple materials may be added to one or more layers in order to create a white-emitting OLED, for example, by combining blue- and yellow-emitting materials, cyan- and red-emitting materials, or red-, green-, and blue-emitting materials. White-emitting devices are described, for example, in EP 1 187 235, U.S. 20020025419, EP 1 182 244, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,683,823, 5,503,910, 5,405,709, and 5,283,182 and can be equipped with a suitable filter arrangement to produce a color emission.

This invention may be used in so-called stacked device architecture, for example, as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,703,436 and 6,337,492.

Deposition of Organic Layers

The organic materials mentioned above are suitably deposited by any means suitable for the form of the organic materials. In the case of small molecules, they are conveniently deposited through sublimation or evaporation, but can be deposited by other means such as coating from a solvent together with an optional binder to improve film formation. If the material is a polymer, solvent deposition is usually preferred. The material to be deposited by sublimation or evaporation can be vaporized from a sublimator “boat” often comprised of a tantalum material, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,529, or can be first coated onto a donor sheet and then sublimed in closer proximity to the substrate. Layers with a mixture of materials can utilize separate sublimator boats or the materials can be pre-mixed and coated from a single boat or donor sheet. Patterned deposition can be achieved using shadow masks, integral shadow masks (U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,870), spatially-defined thermal dye transfer from a donor sheet (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,688,551, 5,851,709 and 6,066,357) or an inkjet method (U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,357).

Encapsulation

Most OLED devices are sensitive to moisture or oxygen, or both, so they are commonly sealed in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen or argon, along with a desiccant such as alumina, bauxite, calcium sulfate, clays, silica gel, zeolites, alkaline metal oxides, alkaline earth metal oxides, sulfates, or metal halides and perchlorates. Methods for encapsulation and desiccation include, but are not limited to, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,890. In addition, barrier layers such as SiO_(x), Teflon, and alternating inorganic/polymeric layers are known in the art for encapsulation. Any of these methods of sealing or encapsulation and desiccation can be used with the EL devices constructed according to the present invention.

Optical Optimization

OLED devices of this invention can employ various well-known optical effects in order to enhance their emissive properties if desired. This includes optimizing layer thicknesses to yield maximum light transmission, providing dielectric mirror structures, replacing reflective electrodes with light-absorbing electrodes, providing anti-glare or anti-reflection coatings over the display, providing a polarizing medium over the display, or providing colored, neutral density, or color-conversion filters over the display. Filters, polarizers, and anti-glare or anti-reflection coatings may be specifically provided over the EL device or as part of the EL device.

Embodiments of the invention can provide advantageous features such as higher luminous yield, lower drive voltage, and higher power efficiency, or reduced sublimation temperatures. Embodiments of the compounds useful in the invention can provide a wide range of hues including those useful in the emission of white light (directly or through filters to provide multicolor displays). Embodiments of the invention can also provide an area lighting device. The invention and its advantages can be better appreciated by the following examples.

SYNTHETIC EXAMPLE Preparation of Inv-2

2-Chloro-6-diphenylaminoquinoline (Int-1, Rxn-1) was prepared by the following method. A mixture of 2-hydroxy-6-bromoquinoline (1.71 g, 7.6 mmol, see C. E. Kaslow, Org. Synth. III, 194, (1955)), diphenylamine (1.91 g, 8.7 mmol), palladium acetate (30 mg, 0.13 mmol), tricyclohexylphosphine (37 mg, 0.13 mmol), dry toluene (60 ml) and t-BuONa (1.92 g, 20 mmol) was stirred at 90° C. for 5 h, cooled to room temperature and quenched with water (300 ml) and heptane (40 ml). The crude product was isolated by filtration, washed with diisopropyl ether and dried initially in air and then in vacuum at 60° C. overnight. This material was stirred with 8 ml of POCl₃ at 100° C. for 1 hour. The hot mixture was quenched with cold water (150 ml) and the crude solid material was isolated by filtration and purified by crystallization to yield 1.51 g (65%) of the desired product, Int-1.

Int-2 (Rxn-2) was prepared by the following procedure. 2-Amino-6-mesitylquinoline was synthesized from 2-chloro-6-mesitylquinoline as described by Sunwoo Lee et al., Org. Lett., 3, 2729 (2001). A mixture of 2-amino-6-mesitylquinoline (1.05 g, 4 mmol), 2-chloro-6-diphenylaminoquinoline (1.32 g, 4 mmol), palladium acetate (9 mg, 0.04 mmol), tricyclohexylphosphine (46 mg, 0.04 mmol), dry toluene (8 ml) and t-BuONa (0.96 g, 10 mmol) was stirred at 90° C. for 5 h, cooled to room temperature and quenched with water (50 ml). The organic materials were extracted with ethyl acetate, and the organic layer was dried prior to evaporation. The crude material was purified on silica gel using a mixture of heptane and ethyl acetate to yield 1.58 g (68%) of the desire product, Int-2.

Compound Inv-2 was prepared by the following procedure (Rxn-3). A 20 ml seal tube was charged with intermediate, Int-2, (1.1 g, 2 mmol), dry propionitrile (5 ml) and BF₃,Et₂O (1.25 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred at 120° C. for 18 h. After cooling, the reaction mixture was slowly added to water (100 ml) at 18-28° C. The water mixture was stirred (1-3 h) to solidified the product which was isolated by filtration, washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate (400 ml) solution, water and then dried with flow of air for 3 h. The crude product was transferred to flask, slurried with i-Pr₂O (10 ml), stirred for 0.5 h, collected by filtration and dried in air for 1 h.

The solid material was then dried in vacuum at 70° C. for 6 h. After cooling, the solid material was slurried with 15 ml of a mixture of ethyl acetate-heptane (2:1), collected by filtration, washed with 15 ml of a mixture of ethyl acetate-heptane (1:1) and dried in air for 1 h and then in a vacuum oven at 70° C. for 6 h to afford Inv-2.

DEVICE EXAMPLE 1 EL Device Fabrication of Samples 1-5

An EL device (Sample 1) satisfying the requirements of the invention was constructed in the following manner:

-   -   1. A glass substrate coated with an 85 nm layer of indium-tin         oxide (ITO) as the anode was sequentially ultrasonicated in a         commercial detergent, rinsed in deionized water, degreased in         toluene vapor and exposed to oxygen plasma for about 1 min.     -   2. Over the ITO was deposited a 1 nm fluorocarbon (CFx)         hole-injecting layer (HIL) by plasma-assisted deposition of         CHF₃.     -   3. A hole-transporting layer (HTL) of         N,N′-di-1-naphthyl-N,N′-diphenyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl (NPB)         having a thickness of 75 nm was then evaporated from a tantalum         boat.     -   4. A 37.5 nm light-emitting layer (LEL) of         tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum (III) (AlQ₃) and Inv-2 (0.50 wt %)         were then deposited onto the hole-transporting layer. These         materials were also evaporated from tantalum boats.     -   5. A 37.5 nm electron-transporting layer (ETL) of         tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum (III) (AlQ₃) was then deposited         onto the light-emitting layer. This material was also evaporated         from a tantalum boat.     -   6. On top of the AlQ₃ layer was deposited a 220 nm cathode         formed of a 10:1 volume ratio of Mg and Ag.

The above sequence completed the deposition of the EL device. The device was then hermetically packaged in a dry glove box for protection against ambient environment.

EL devices, Samples 2-4, incorporating Inv-2 were fabricated in an identical manner as Sample 1 except Inv-2 was used at the levels indicated in the Table 1. Sample 5 was constructed in the same manner as Sample 1 except Inv-2 was replaced with diphenylquinacridone (DPQA) at a level of 0.70%. The cells thus formed were tested for efficiency and color at an operating current of 20 mA/cm² and the results are reported in Table 1 in the form of output efficiency (W/A), luminance yield (cd/A), and CIE (Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage) coordinates.

TABLE 1 Evaluation Results for EL devices. Sam- Level Efficiency Yield ple Material (%) (W/A) (cd/A) CIEx CIEy Type 1 Inv-2 0.50 0.043 6.47 0.325 0.602 Invention 2 Inv-2 1.00 0.055 8.73 0.332 0.609 Invention 3 Inv-2 1.50 0.065 10.51 0.349 0.607 Invention 4 Inv-2 2.00 0.068 11.06 0.361 0.602 Invention 5 DPQA 0.70 0.048 8.26 0.308 0.648 Comparison

The level % of comparison DPQA employed has previously been determined as optimum for that emitter. As can be seen from Table 1, devices incorporating the invention light-emitting material demonstrated superior efficiency relative to a device containing the comparison emitter with improvements of up to 42% realized. Further, the hue of the emission is in the green range and it is expected that other colors can be obtained by substituent variation.

The entire contents of the patents and other publications referred to in this specification are incorporated herein by reference. The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

PARTS LIST

-   101 Substrate -   103 Anode -   105 Hole-Injecting layer (HIL) -   107 Hole-Transporting layer (HTL) -   109 Light-Emitting layer (LEL) -   111 Electron-Transporting layer (ETL) -   113 Cathode 

1. An electroluminescent device comprising a light-emitting layer containing a host and a light-emitting material wherein the light-emitting material comprises a boron complex containing boron complexed by two ring nitrogens of a deprotonated bis(aromatic)amine ligand wherein the boron complex comprises at least five rings and contains a tertiary amine substituent group wherein the substituent group is an aromatic tertiary amine group.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex emits blue light.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex emits green light.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex emits red light.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex is represented by Formula (1):

wherein: Ar^(a) and Ar^(b) each independently represent the atoms necessary to form a heteroaromatic ring group; Y represents N; G^(a) and G^(b) represent independently selected substituents; each L independently represents a bond or an independently selected linking group; n is 1 or 2; m is 0, 1, or 2; and each T represents an independently selected substituent containing a tertiary amine group wherein the substituent group is an aromatic tertiary amine group; provided that Ar^(a) and Ar^(b) may contain further substituents and provided that the L-T or other substituents may combine to form fused rings.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein G^(a) and G^(b) represent F.
 7. The device of claim 5 wherein Ar^(a) and Ar^(b) each independently represent the atoms necessary to form a six-membered heteroaromatic ring group.
 8. The device of claim 5 wherein Ar^(a) represents the atoms necessary to form a six-membered heteroaromatic ring group and Ar^(b) represents the atoms necessary to form a five-membered heteroaromatic ring group.
 9. The device of claim 5 wherein Ar^(a) and Ar^(b) each independently represent the atoms necessary to form a five-membered heteroaromatic ring group.
 10. The device of claim 5 wherein n is 1 and m is 0 or
 1. 11. The device of claim 5 wherein T represents N(Ar^(c))(Ar^(d)), wherein Ar^(c) and Ar^(d) represent independently selected aromatic groups provided Ar^(c) and Ar^(d) may be bonded to one another.
 12. The device of claim 5 wherein L represents a bond.
 13. The device of claim 5 wherein L represents an aromatic linking group.
 14. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex is represented by Formula (2a):

wherein: Y represents N; G^(a) and G^(b) represent independently selected substituents; each Z^(a) represents an independently selected substituent, provided substituents may combine to form fused rings; each u independently is 0-4; and provided X or at least one of Z^(a) contains a tertiary amine.
 15. The device of claim 14 wherein G^(a) and G^(b) represent F.
 16. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex is represented by Formula (2b):

wherein: J represents O, S, Se, or N-A, wherein A represents a substituent; Y represents N; G^(a) and G^(b) represent independently selected substituents; each Z^(a) represents an independently selected substituent, provided substituents may combine to form fused rings; each u independently is 0-4; and provided X, A or at least one of Z^(a) includes a tertiary amine.
 17. The device of claim 16 wherein G^(a) and G^(b) represent F.
 18. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex is represented by Formula (2c):

wherein: J¹ and J² independently represent O, S, Se, or N-A, wherein A represents a substituent; Y represents N; G^(a) and G^(b) represent independently selected substituents; each Z^(a) represents an independently selected substituent, provided substituents may combine to form fused rings; each u independently is 0-4; and provided X, A or at least one of Z^(a) includes a tertiary amine.
 19. The device of claim 18 wherein G^(a) and G^(b) represent F.
 20. The device of claim 18 wherein Formula 2c comprises at least five rings.
 21. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex is represented by Formula (2d):

wherein: Y represents N; each Z^(a) represents an independently selected substituent, provided substituents my combine to form fused rings; each v independently is 0-3; and provided that X or at least one of Z^(a) includes a tertiary amine.
 22. The device of claim 21 wherein G^(a) and G^(b) represent F.
 23. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex is represented by Formula 2a, 2b, 2c, or 2d:

wherein: J represents O, S, Se, or N-A, wherein A represents a substituent; J¹ and J² independently represent O, S, Se, or N-A, wherein A represents a substituent; Y represents N; G^(a) and G^(b) represent independently selected substituents; each Z^(a) independently represents an independently selected substituent, provided substituents may combine to form rings; each u independently is 0-4; each v is 0-3; and provided X or A or at least one of Z^(a), includes a tertiary amine.
 24. The device of claim 1 wherein the host material comprises an anthracene compound of Formula 3a,

wherein: W₁-W₁₀ independently represent hydrogen or an independently selected substituent, provided that substituents may combine to form fused rings.
 25. The device of claim 24, wherein the host material is an anthracene compound of Formula 3a, and W⁹ and W¹⁰ independently represent naphthyl groups or biphenyl groups.
 26. The device of claim of 1 wherein the host material comprises a chelated oxinoid compound of Formula 3b,

wherein M represents a metal; n is an integer of from 1 to 4; and Z independently in each occurrence represents the atoms completing a nucleus having at least two fused aromatic rings.
 27. The device of claim 26 wherein the host material is a chelated oxinoid represented by Formula 3b, and M represents aluminum, n is 3, and Z represents the atoms necessary to complete a quinoline compound.
 28. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex is from 0.5 to 10% by volume of the light-emitting layer.
 29. A display comprising the electroluminescent device of claim
 1. 30. The device of claim 1 wherein white light is produced either directly or by using filters.
 31. An area lighting device comprising the electroluminescent device of claim
 1. 32. A process for emitting light comprising applying a potential across the device of claim
 1. 